Rick Carlisle

ESPN

Rick Carlisle, a member of the Celtics’ last championship team in 1986 and 2002 NBA Coach of the Year, currently serves as President of the NBA Coaches’ Association and NBA analyst for ESPN. One of the most respected coaching minds in the NBA, Carlisle became the first coach since Pat Riley to win 50 games and division championships in his first three seasons as a head coach (two with the Detroit Pistons, one with the Indiana Pacers). He led the Pistons to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2002 and the Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2004.

Carlisle is known for his ability to develop players and meticulous game preparation, which have helped his teams set single-season franchise records for wins and make deep playoff runs. He has developed and implemented statistical means for analyzing offensive and defensive efficiency and team aggressiveness and disposition.

As President of the NBA Coaches’ Association, Carlisle initiated the NBA Coaches’ Association Rules Committee, a cooperative endeavor with the NBA league Office, which has helped contribute six new rules to “improve the NBA game” in the last two years.

Carlisle was drafted by the Celtics after leading Virginia to the 1984 NCAA Final Four. He graduated with a degree in psychology.